Free event for aspiring entrepreneurs in Barnstaple

The Business Start Up Event, held at Barnstaple Library last year. Picture: Jim Wileman

Barnstaple Library will be putting on a free event for entrepreneurs on Thursday – and there will be cheese and cider.

The Business & Intellectual Property (IP) Centre Devon workshops will provide expert free advice for those looking to develop a new idea into a profitable career.

Start-Up Day 2018 is being sponsored for the first time by banking and business experts Santander.

The event will offer free impartial advice and encouragement delivered by library staff, guest speakers and new business start-up companies who have seen the benefits of using services delivered by The Business & IP Centre Devon.

There will be expert advice on how to scale up and build a business that will deliver value year-after-year at 5pm.

Barnstaple-based South West Cheese Shop, who will be joined by John Brooks, founder of Brooksy's Cider, will be talking about how they started and grew their businesses at 6pm.

They will also be handing out samples of cheese and cider for attendees to try.

The library's Business & IP Centre will also be showcasing its vast and free resources which combine access to free market intelligence, industry reports and face-to-face advice from experts on starting and protecting a business idea resource as well as signposting to other organisations to help start-ups forge ahead with their business ideas.

Kate Cooper, senior supervisor and Business & IP Centre manager at Barnstaple Library, said: "The Business & IP Centre in Barnstaple Library offers an excellent range of resources to support new and innovative ideas.

"Business start-ups are extremely important to the continued buoyancy of the economy in Devon and here at Barnstaple Library, we're passionate about supporting those with new ideas and helping them succeed.

"Our partnership with the British Library Business & IP Centre allows us to offer these types of events, which are always well attended.

"We also enjoy seeing businesses that return after the event and continue to use our services and share their successes as their businesses grow."

About North Devon Gazette

First published in 1856 as the Bideford Gazette, the North Devon Gazette is the free newspaper and website for the region, covering a vast area from Hartland in the west to Lynton in the east and to South Molton and Holsworthy in the south.